05/05/2005
Hudson Valley Pitchers at the Top of NJCAA

Softball's Kim Wintergerst and Baseball's William Lewis Lead Nation in ERA

It takes good pitching to win in baseball and softball and Hudson Valley Community College's teams have been able to place two of the best in the country on the mound this season.

Sophomore William Lewis (Middletown/Middletown High School), a 6-0 left-hander on the Vikings baseball team, and freshman Kim Wintergerst (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School), a 5-2 right-hander on the softball team, each lead the NJCAA Division III in earned run average in their sport.

Lewis is 6-2 with a 0.77 earned run average. He's allowed four earned runs in 47 innings of work, striking out 50 and walking 18. Opponents are hitting just .169 off him this season.

Lewis recently moved into second place on the college's all-time win list. He's 13-4 in his two seasons at Hudson Valley, and only trails former standout Gary Walcot, who compiled a 15-1 record from 1970 to 1971.

Wintergerst is 6-2 with a 0.30 ERA. She's pitched 47.1 innings and has only allowed two earned runs. She's fanned 41 and walked six.

An all-around athlete, Wintergerst also was the runner-up at No. 1 singles at the 2004 Region III tennis championships.

Both Hudson Valley teams are ranked in the latest NJCAA Division III polls. The baseball team is 27-11 and is ranked No.8, and the softball team is ranked 12th with a 14-6 record.